McLane School Board braces for comments on former coach

General McLane basketball coach Brian Schulz coaches his team against Girard at Girard High School on Jan. 24. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

The General McLane School Board is bracing for the possibility of a crowd interested in commenting about its vacant boys basketball coaching position Wednesday.

But Brian Schulz, the former coach at least some of those people are expected to turn out to support, says he's no longer interested in the job.

This week's limited agenda School Board meeting at James W. Parker Middle School, scheduled primarily to finalize several teaching hires, is the first formal opportunity for comment since General McLane school directors voted 6-3 in June to not renew Schulz's supplemental contract after one season. The board did not meet in July.

A former Lancers player and assistant and the son of former GM coach Andy Schulz, who won 600 games and a PIAA title in 29 seasons, Brian Schulz led General McLane to 15 wins and a District 10 Class AAA playoff appearance in 2013-14. He also teaches in the district.

His ouster has triggered a wave of reaction from the General McLane community.

Quinn Thompson, a former General McLane basketball and football standout, wrote in a letter to school board members that he was "shocked" to learn that Schulz's contract wasn't renewed.

"Many of my friends and former players agreed," said Thompson, who went on to describe Schulz as "a great teacher of the game and a great teacher of life lessons."

In a six-page letter addressed to school directors, former GM baseball and basketball coach Sid Manchester called the vote not to renew Schulz's contract despite administrative support "an injustice."

Manchester suggested the board might have advanced an agenda brought by parents unhappy with playing time or angry because their sons were cut from the team.

"These emotions were brought into the board and voted on against the positive recommendations of the principal, athletic director and the superintendent," Manchester wrote. "This is an extreme case of enabling that has left a few rejoicing for revenge and the majority very angry."

One board member who voted against renewing Schulz's contract denied that was the case.

Amy Eisert, in an emailed response to the Erie Times-News' request for comment, said the board was never approached about playing time. She added that she also voted against Schulz's hiring one year earlier out of "concerns that the selection process did not seriously consider any other applicants" given that Brian Schulz had no previous varsity head coaching experience.

"I respect the enthusiasm on both sides of this issue and hope the community recognizes that we all want what is in the best interests of our current and future students," Eisert said. "It would be great if we had the same interest and community engagement in the issues with changing academic standards, how the state budget will impact our district and new curriculums."

Eisert was the only one of the six board members who voted against Schulz's renewal to respond to a request for comment from the Times-News.

The other five, according to the meeting minutes listed on the district website, are Carrie Crow, Melodee Kushner, Shari Gould, Deb Greenleaf and Annette Rilling.

Directors James Bucksbee, Timothy Wise and Peter Dobrzynski voted to approve Schulz's renewal. Bucksbee, the board president, did not respond to a Times-News request for comment.

Although a vote on the basketball position isn't on the agenda for Wednesday's meeting, it technically could be added. And were Schulz to change his mind and decide to re-apply for the job, which remained posted on the district website Friday afternoon, board members who voted against him could, theoretically, change their votes.

Schulz told the Times-News last week that he is not re-applying. He declined to comment beyond that, saying he is "humbled and grateful for all the support I've received."

The board is preparing to hear more about its vote at Wednesday's meeting and is taking steps to control what could be a large crowd by issuing a release containing guidelines for those wishing to comment.

"Understanding that there are a number of people interested in addressing the board regarding a basketball coach, this document has been prepared to guide people who wish to speak up," the release reads in part.

Speakers will be asked to sign in upon arriving at the meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Parker Middle School's north cafeteria.

Because hiring a new basketball coach is not on Wednesday's meeting agenda, comments will be restricted to a 30-minute period at the conclusion of the meeting. Speakers will be given a 3-minute limit, according to the release.

"We strongly encourage speakers to coordinate their comments so that the same comments are not heard over and over and to assure that the speakers collectively address all their points," the release said.

JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-1677 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNdudley.